Wiped Film Still Components- Part VIII

The internal or external condenser is typically a heat exchanger.  It is critical for the condenser to be temperature controlled and held at a temperature below the boiling temperature of the distillate.  This will allow the vapors to condense and be collected.

Some type of fluid needs to run through the condenser to maintain this temperature.  If there is nothing cooling the condenser, the heat from the vapors will quickly warm the condenser to the temperature of the vapors, and the vapors will stop condensing on the surface of the condenser.

There are several options for cooling condensers.  They can be piped with simple cold water, hot water, a mix of both waters, or a chiller can be purchased to operate the condenser.  Chillers are more expensive for the initial purchase, but they are closed loops and prevent sending water down the drain every time the still is operated.

The word chiller can be a misnomer because many times the distillates that are collected in wiped film stills can be very thick, and need to be warmed to flow out of the wiped film still.  Therefore, the circulation units for the condenser may have the ability to heat and cool depending on your application. 

Picture courtesy of Pope Scientific Inc.